LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 50
The play Close Your Eyes.
It’s probably the most talked-about play recently.
On the day of its first performance, it was rare to find anyone in Daehakro who didn’t mention Close Your Eyes.
“Did you see the variety show? Park Jung-woo and Yeonhwa (Princess) were on it.”
“Yeah, I saw it. That’s why I booked a ticket.”
A couple was walking while chatting about it.
The Moon That Hid the Sun was a drama that had been a huge hit ten years ago.
“But who is Joo Seo-yeon?”
“She’s really pretty. Apparently, she’s still a high school student.”
“I heard she played the young Yeonhwa (Princess) role?”
Not many young people remembered that.
But as the saying goes, when the older generation makes a fuss, the younger ones tend to show interest.
“Wow, so she met Park Jung-woo by chance on that variety show?”
“I heard the child actor was so good it caused a stir in episode 8. They’re just recreating that and it’s become noisy again.”
“Aha.”
Narrative.
There was nothing quite like this to get an actor’s name out there.
That ‘genius child actor’ returning after 10 years.
The reactions of the talked-about actor, Park Jung-woo, with her.
Everything came together, sparking curiosity about ‘Joo Seo-yeon.’
And in turn, it ignited curiosity about the play Close Your Eyes.
“It’s still more ‘Yeonhwa (Princess)’ than ‘Joo Seo-yeon,’ right?”
“Yeah, that’s definitely true.”
Two middle-aged men sat in an outdoor café overhearing the young people’s conversation.
There were still a little over two hours left before the show, but a considerable number of people had already gathered.
“I haven’t felt this kind of ripple from an actor in a long time.”
“Whether it ends as mere interest or becomes a stepping stone for them, that all depends on the individual, right?”
In the Past, Looking at Memories.
Originally, the variety show boasted a viewership of just over 6 percent.
But with the episode on ‘Yeonhwa High School,’ viewership suddenly shot up over 14 percent.
The dying variety show unexpectedly revived.
It had gathered so much buzz that several videos discussing ‘Joo Seo-yeon,’ The Moon That Hid the Sun, and Park Jung-woo were already up on YouTube.
Perhaps this play gained attention because of those people.
How many among them came just to see the real play and Joo Seo-yeon, was anyone’s guess.
“Director Bae Jin-hwan.”
As he was lost in thought, the accompanying producer, Cha Dong-jin, spoke up.
“Thanks to you, Director, I get to see it too.”
“Well, without the director, it wouldn’t have any meaning, would it?”
Bae Jin-hwan and Cha Dong-jin.
They were here to scout actors.
For a film ambitiously planned by the GH Group.
They were searching for one of the most important roles there.
This Close Your Eyes was part of that endeavor.
“Thanks to PD Jo Do-yul giving us VIP tickets, we’re saved. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have been able to enter.”
A small number of tickets were given to actors or crew.
They managed to get 2.
For Bae Jin-hwan and Cha Dong-jin, it was a stroke of luck.
“What do you think, Director?”
“You mean Joo Seo-yeon, right?”
“Yes. She’s the one playing ‘Hong Jeong-hee.’”
Despite being unrelated to this issue, they planned to watch Close Your Eyes to see the actress playing the role of Hong Jeong-hee.
It just happened that the role went to Seo-yeon.
“A young, impactful villain role. It’s rare to find an actor who does that well.”
“That’s right. We haven’t found a suitable actor yet.”
They had already seen several plays.
Mostly those featuring significant villain roles.
Among the recent visual media, none had left a deep impression with their villain performances.
Should they hold auditions?
As those thoughts crossed their minds, there was also a notion to cast a well-known actor as the GH Group requested.
“Certainly, Joo Seo-yeon’s performance shown in the variety show was good.”
“But a villain role is different, you know.”
The saying goes, “A grand feast has no food.”
Yeonhwa (Princess) and Hong Jeong-hee were completely different roles.
Who could say if she could play that role well?
“Let’s start going in. It seems the audience is being let in now.”
“Oh, okay.”
Watching the people lining up, the two slowly stood up.
With no huge expectations.
*
“Is everyone ready?”
Sim Cheong-seok said, looking at the visibly nervous actors.
Things had grown too big.
The audience was larger, and he could feel the anticipation was several times heightened.
Close Your Eyes was already an established play, but ultimately it’s a romantic comedy.
So, it wasn’t really a ‘masterpiece.’
“Will it be okay?”
The one asking was Lee Hye-jin, playing Song Min-seo.
Originally, she was meant for the 3rd performance, but the order had changed.
The first performance of Close Your Eyes.
The reason was clear.
“Well then, what will you do if it’s not okay?”
Sim Cheong-seok chuckled.
He thought to himself, Is this really something an actor should say?
Usually, one would comfort a bit, but Sim Cheong-seok was different.
“You’ve practiced hard, and you’re well-prepared, so have some confidence.”
“Yes, yes.”
His head ached at Hye-jin’s slightly deflated response.
‘She was like this since practice.’
Maybe they should have changed the order for Song Min-seo’s role.
Doubts were creeping in.
On the other hand.
‘I wonder what she’s thinking?’
He saw Seo-yeon quietly closing her eyes.
She had been remarkable during practice, but who knows how she would perform for real.
Seo-yeon was still a high school student.
At an age where mental pressure could easily overwhelm.
‘But.’
He recalled In the Past, Looking at Memories.
The number of students who looked at her was far more than this.
It had even been aired on TV and YouTube.
So it’s alright.
Sim Cheong-seok smirked, watching Seo-yeon.
It had been a long time since he had acted with someone this refreshing.
He even wondered what if she were playing the role of Song Min-seo instead.
‘Then that would have been a disaster.’
Not because of Seo-yeon but because Hye-jin had to take on the role of Hong Jeong-hee.
She had no talent for playing a villain.
Sim Cheong-seok was sure of that.
“Let’s go.”
Somewhat uneasy, the curtain of the play rose.
*
“Hey!”
Bae Seong-hak’s sharp shout echoed.
His voice was laced with irritation.
He stomped over and grabbed the arm of a woman who was ignoring him.
“I’ve called out to you several times, why aren’t you replying? You dropped something!”
With his words, the woman looked at him innocently.
“I can’t hear you.”
Bae Seong-hak was taken aback by her response.
He couldn’t believe she was actually hard of hearing.
Thus began the first meeting between Bae Seong-hak and Song Min-seo.
A popular idol and a deaf woman.
An unlikely relationship began to intertwine as the story flowed on.
Song Min-seo, wanting to hear the idol Bae Seong-hak’s song.
And Bae Seong-hak, wanting to share his voice with her, tug at the audience’s heartstrings.
‘It’s my first play and it’s pretty good?’
‘Who is that actor? He’s really handsome.’
The audience’s reaction was favorable.
But not everyone was satisfied.
‘Compared to Bae Seong-hak’s role, the female lead is lacking presence.’
‘It’s not just a character issue. This is… a miss.’
Those with some knowledge would think so.
Director Bae Jin-hwan was among them.
First performances often have such cases.
They tend to be awkward with a few mistakes.
That’s why many audiences avoid the first performance.
“Hmmm.”
Just as Bae Jin-hwan was watching the play with a sullen face.
“Oh! It’s Hong Jeong-hee!”
Bae Seong-hak’s acting tone changed.
“Nice to meet you. You come to every performance, right? Your face seems familiar.”
It was nothing special to say.
But the feeling was entirely different.
Bae Seong-hak’s acting, which had originally been good, turned piercingly sharp.
The emotions.
The movements and gestures.
“Oh, hello. I’m, um, Hong Jeong-hee.”
The recipient of that performance was a shy woman, withdrawing her body.
With her appearance, the atmosphere of the play shifted dramatically.
Hong Jeong-hee.
The main villain of this Close Your Eyes.
‘Joo Seo-yeon.’
Director Bae Jin-hwan recognized her at a glance.
‘Completely different from Yeonhwa (Princess).’
He exchanged glances with Cha Dong-jin sitting next to him.
Now the real deal begins.
They were there solely to see her.
Would she meet their expectations?
Or fall short?
With that, the third act began.
The act with the highest focus on Hong Jeong-hee.
*
“Affection? Oh, were you still worried about that?”
Just minutes before the start of the act, Seo-yeon asked Sim Cheong-seok.
“Yes, I think I can’t show bad acting now.”
“Hmmm, that makes sense.”
He said that with a grin.
“Affection, huh? Clearly, Hong Jeong-hee had feelings for Bae Seong-hak. The flaw is that it doesn’t show. That’s what you’re thinking, right?”
“Yeah.”
This was quite a significant issue.
It could alter the emotional line Seo-yeon had been building for Hong Jeong-hee.
Could hinder immersion in the role or prevent her from truly understanding it.
“You’re a bit too ambitious, don’t you think?”
“What?”
“This is a tip.”
He gestured with a finger.
“Sometimes, a little deception in acting is necessary.”
“Deception?”
“Affection, sure, it’s needed. Hong Jeong-hee’s behavior is ultimately for Bae Seong-hak.”
But.
“What role does Hong Jeong-hee play in the play? She’s the villain.”
It’s good to display affection.
But she must distinguish that.
The role Hong Jeong-hee plays in the drama.
Showing affection is good, but it’s entirely inconsequential.
At least that was Sim Cheong-seok’s opinion.
“The author’s intent and the interpreter’s understanding don’t always align, you know.”
“……”
“You understand what I mean, right?”
Just avoiding it.
“Perfection is not necessarily the answer.”
The conversation with Sim Cheong-seok.
Seo-yeon slowly opened her previously closed eyes.
The start of the third act.
She could feel countless audience gazes upon her.
‘I am Hong Jeong-hee.’
She inhaled deeply.
Relaxing her tensed body, she hunched her back.
Emulating and interpreting Pyo Ji-woo’s emotions.
At that moment, Seo-yeon became one with Hong Jeong-hee perfectly.
The villain.
Yes, this is why she was cast for this role.
‘Hong Jeong-hee’s inferiority complex, her insidiousness, and her obsession.’
Emphasizing that.
Deception.
If presented to the extreme, the audience would find the reason behind everything.
The reasons for Hong Jeong-hee’s actions.
Without having to perform affection, all her actions could be misconstrued as driven by affection.
“Heh.”
A laugh escaped Seo-yeon, from Hong Jeong-hee’s lips.
In that instant, the audience froze.
Something felt different.
Hong Jeong-hee chuckled, her shoulders shaking.
When she looked up, there was a pale face visible beneath the dim lights.
Joo Seo-yeon.
Yeonhwa (Princess).
The name hardly crossed their minds as a chilling atmosphere enveloped her.
She did not seem like the same person at all.
“Liar.”
The moment Hong Jeong-hee’s monologue began, Bae Jin-hwan nearly shot up from his seat.
‘This…’
The actor he had been searching for all along.
The villain who could illuminate his film.
Perhaps, he had just found the very person he was looking for.